The upcoming episode of People Magazine Investigates unravels the chilling story of the infamous Indiana Slasher. What began as a night of fun for sisters Kathie and Sheri Rottler, along with their best friend Kandice Smith, quickly turned into a horrifying nightmare.
This goes back to August 1975, when these teenagers ventured out without adult supervision for the first time, and ended up getting brutally stabbed by a man.
People Magazine Investigates Season 8 Episode 12 will offer viewers a deep dive into a four-decades-old case about a tragic incident in Cumberland, Indiana. The episode will highlight the attack on three teenagers and the consequences of the incident.
As mentioned above, Kathie, Sheri, and Kandice went out to have some fun and were offered a ride by a man driving a white station wagon. As they got into his car, the man took them to a remote area instead of the spot they had asked him to stop the car.
Soon after the girls identified his sinister intentions they tried to escape but the car's handle was deliberately altered. When the man stopped the car, he tied the girls' hands and committed a series of horrific acts.
He raped Sheri, the youngest of the three, and stabbed all of them repeatedly. After the brutal attack, the Indiana Slasher left the girls to die. However, they didn't give up and tried hard to survive.
Continue reading to know more about the case and how the culprit was identified.
People Magazine Investigates set to feature the Indiana Slasher case from 1975
If you like exploring true crime cases don't miss out on People Magazine Investigates upcoming Episode 12 "The Indiana Slasher" on December 30, 2024, on Investigation Discovery. For viewers who prefer streaming the episode, it will be available on Max as well.
Following the attack, the girls sustained several injuries and cuts. According to People Magazine, Kandice shared "I had 12 cuts to my throat and probably about 300 stitches".
The attack resulted in immeasurable emotional trauma to the girls, which viewers might understand through the upcoming episode of People Magazine Investigates.
Despite the pain, the three didn't give up and fought for survival. Kandice crawled over to Kathie, and together they managed to reach a nearby highway for help. The law enforcement arrived on time and Retired Indianapolis police detective Greg Maxey was the first to witness the brutality the girls suffered.
DNA evidence helped identify the Indiana Slasher
As previously explained, the upcoming episode of People Magazine Investigates will offer a deep dive into the case, including how the women's persistence paid off. In 2018, they contacted Sgt. David Ellison of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department who worked under the cold case unit.
Sgt. Ellison began reviewing the DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene and used genetic genealogy to identify the relatives of the culprit. The advancements in technology helped them identify the Indiana Slasher as Thomas Edward Williams in 2023, who was revealed to have died in 1983.
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As shared by WTHR, the survivors gave their statements, explaining that they've learned to wait, and the identification of the Indiana Slasher has brought "peace within" their hearts. Kathie Rottler said:
"I stand here before you today as a survivor who has learned the true meaning of patience. I’ve learned that sometimes the answer you are waiting for can take decades to get"
It took years to solve the case and identify the man, but despite that, the survivors were happy as they stood by each other and displayed patience. The People Magazine Investigates episode will also feature the authorities who handle the case and open up about the initial suspect and the actual attacker.
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